Ride from the Heart DVD

By Jenny Rolfe

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton http://www.dreamsaloud.caTraining is about connection with our horse with love, harmony and respect. The more we understand the ways of the horse, the more we understand our own feelings. As a result we can live in more harmony - not only with our horse - but with ourselves. ~ Jenny Rolfe

U.K. riding instructor Jenny Rolfeteaches innovative techniques of core breathing to connect with the horse and help the rider to find harmony in body, mind and spirit. Now these techniques are available in progressive and well-organized detail on the DVD Ride from the Heart.

Rolfe’s principles are based in dressage, but applicable to all forms of riding. She demonstrates with her Iberian stallions using liberty work, not only as a training aid, but also as a warm-up, re-establishing connection on the ground prior to riding. The object is calm, assertive leadership, and total empathy between horse and handler.

The DVD includes common training tips such as not pulling on a horse’s head when leading. There are also excellent demonstrations of Rolfe’s exercise system to improve the rider’s body awareness. Exercises, loosely based on Tai Chi, are done in standing positions. The rider is then soft and relaxed when mounted, and thus the horse is as well. Most athletes already use such techniques prior to competition, but not much has been offered on DVD for the equestrian.

Instructors will value this DVD as a teaching tool for all levels, but it additionally offers fresh perspectives on position and groundwork. It is really for anyone who wants to help their horse become a more confident athlete and simply create a better ride.

Jenny Rolfe’s clients come from all over the world and include those professionally involved with horses, among them BHS trainers, physiotherapists and natural horsemanship instructors. She is also an artist and author of the book Ride from the Heart and her upcoming 2012 release Breathe Life Into Your Riding.

There is a place in India where the love of horses surpasses all understanding.It is a place where equestrians and equines thrive in harmony, integrity and friendship. It is a community that promotes rider ethics and horse welfare; a place where riders convene to embrace and learn the wonders of quality horsemanship. It is the Equestrian Club of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, India.

Anish Gajjar, Co-Founder of the Equestrian Club of Gujarat, Freelance Equestrian Trainer and Riding Instructor, is a seventeen year veteran on the equestrian scene. He is a charismatic entrepreneur, creating a firm foundation for one of India’s premier riding academies.Gajjar is candid about riding and his passion for horses.Through the years, he has enabled many to fulfill their dreams of horsemanship, while providing an outlet for his own ambitious ventures.

The riding club is nestled on the outskirts of the Ahmedabad suburb.The stables are clean and comfortable; the horses are grand and sleek, with a whinny now and then.The smell of horses and leather permeate the facility.As with any quality riding club, the horses are kept with utmost care. Each horse is stalled separately, without hobbles as is customary in some Indian stables.The brick and mortar stalls are settled neatly in rows with adequate space for grooming, tack, and the frequent affection provided by riders and visitors.

Gajjar arrives at the stables every day by six am for his morning ride.Students appear shortly thereafter for riding lessons and coaching sessions.Upon entering the riding academy, each student is evaluated as to their level of expertise.The chosen horse is determined by the size and weight of the student; a quiet, gentle horse is given to an inexperienced adult or child, while educated riders can begin with a more spirited horse. Students range from children to adults, novice to intermediate levels.

Under the expert guidance of Gajjar, students learn proper equitation as well as respect and care for horses.Students learn that horses can recognize anxieties and desires through physical messages and focal movements; that physical and focal cues act as communication tools to achieve the desired response from their mount.The large riding arena is surrounded by mango groves and beautiful landscape.The arena adjoins the stable providing adequate room to hone basic riding techniques as well as jumping and dressage skills for horse shows and competitions.

Gajjar not only provides clients with riding lessons, but also the opportunity for guidance with equine training, procurement, breeding, and nutritional/health management.Working with local veterinarians and horse experts, Gajjar has formed a deep friendship and camaraderie amongst horse owners.

It is hard work, but as Gajjar indicates, “Hard work has no short cut and success is not achieved overnight.One should not get disheartened at short term obstacles, but should focus on long term gains.”His vision has become a reality; he is world renowned for his riding expertise, advocacy for the ethical treatment of horses, and, most of all, his mesmerizing, beautiful horses.

If you have the opportunity to travel to Ahmedabad, stop in and visit with Gajjar.He will readily welcome your intrigue and take you a tour of his facility, and maybe a quiet ride through the nearby mango grove and dry riverbeds..

With a pleasant smile and confident stance, Gajjar states, “Tell me it can’t be done, and I will do it; tell me the goal is too high, and I will reach it; place an obstacle in front of me and I will soar over it; challenge me, dare me, or even defy me, but do not underestimate me - for on the back of my horse anything is possible.”

Horsemanship ....... it is an art, a science, a tradition and a lifelong journey!

The articles written forwww.Horseownertoday.com are a collection of my personal memoirs as a horse owner. They are about my experiences and about my understanding of horsemanship. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of www.Horseownertodaycom.com and in some cases, they do not reflect the opinion of the majority of horse owners today. They are about my journey toward understanding a horse.

I enjoy watching the horses interact with one another in the pasture.An interesting thing occurred the other day and it got me thinking about how leadership works in an established herd.

It was a beautiful spring day.Most of the horses were standing along the fence line, lazing in the warm sun.The rest of the horses, including the yearlings, were nibbling on the newly sprouted grass near the pond.

As I stood watching, my thoughts were interrupted by a ruckus near the pond.One of the geldings had started chasing the yearlings around.He was relentless and it caused me to wonder about the safety of the yearlings.It was about then that the big bay took notice.She motioned with her head toward the dun that was resting beside her.

The dun left his resting spot along the fence line and slowly trotted toward the troublemaker.With a rather matter-of-fact attitude, he separated the troublemaker from the yearlings and herded him around the pond.After one circle around the pond, the dun returned to his resting spot beside the bay.

Within minutes the troublemaker was back at it.And again the dun slowly trotted out.He separated him from the yearlings and once again he sent him off around the pond.

On the troublemaker's third offense, the dun trotted out with a bit more determination.He separated him from the yearlings and herded him toward the group of horses that were resting along the fence line.As the troublemaker trotted by, the bay bit him on the backside.That ended the ruckus in the pasture.

I couldn't help wondering about what I had seen.As horse owners, we tend to read things into situations and come up with entirely wrong conclusions, sort of like when we believed our teddy bear could talk."Personification" is the proper term for it.Yet it seemed to me that I had not read anything into this situation.

As it turns out, a herd of horses has a set of values and laws that benefit the entire herd.It is the responsibility of the lead horse to maintain the herd's values and laws.This is done for the wellbeing of the entire herd.The herd looks to the leader for support and direction.The herd relies on her wisdom.

Conflict is usually between consenting scrappers who are attempting to increase their position within the herd hierarchy.Often the lead horse will let them figure it out on their own.Occasionally the lead horse will delegate leadership to another horse.The lead horse steps in if the horse that is lower in the hierarchy is not able to resolve the issue.And within the herd, strong friendships are formed and submissive horses are protected.

It seems that people often mistakenly assume that leadership is based on dominance.Rarely is that the case.Dominant horses tend to be too reactive to be good leaders.They are too emotional, too exuberant, too flighty and too extreme in their behavior.

The herd leader is the horse that is best able to protect the herd.The herd leader is often the most intelligent horse and the one who has the most experience and wisdom.The leader is trusted and respected for her wisdom and her ability to keep the herd safe and secure.

Horses communicate with one another in a meaningful way.Leadership is maintained in a logical and honest manner.It is consistent and "in the moment".At times it is very subtle.It is not based on dominance or emotion.I suppose it could be said that the lead horse is the horse with the most "savvy".